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SafeClear Major Freeway Towing and Emergency Road Service Program

Learn about the history and current plan of Houston's SafeClear program, which provides towing and roadside services for stalled vehicles on freeways. Presented by Houston Police Department Chief of Police Art Acevedo and Captain Bryan Bennett.

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SafeClear Major Freeway Towing and Emergency Road Service Program

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  1. SafeClear Major Freeway Towing and Emergency Road Service Program Houston Police Department Art Acevedo – Chief of Police Presented by: Captain Bryan Bennett

  2. History • In 2005, the City of Houston launched its SafeClear Traffic Incident Management Program. • Designed to remove disabled and abandoned vehicles via remote visual authorization by HPD officers stationed at Houston TranStar • From January 2005 to 2011 -- Tows of stalled vehicles in a non-moving lane of traffic were free to citizens until City ran into funding constraints

  3. History • In 2011, the City made several changes to the SafeClear Program: • Vehicle owners were charged $50.00 for a tow of a stalled vehicle in a non-moving lane and $30.00 for On-Freeway Roadside Services. • If unable to pay, vehicle is towed to a City-approved storage facility for up to 48 hours at no extra charge. • METRO officers replaced HPD officers at Houston TranStar to authorize remote tows. • Additionally, dispatchers were hired by the SafeClear Management Group to help process tows.

  4. Current Plan • In November 2015, after completion of Request for Qualification process, City Council approved the continuation of the SafeClear Program and awarded SafeClear segments to 17 tow operators. • One company lost its SafeClear contract due to contract violations – The Program now has 16 tow operators. • Public is charged $60.00 per tow, no charge for roadside service.

  5. Current Plan (cont) • November 2016 -- Harris County Sheriff Office deputies replace METRO officers for authorizing tows.

  6. Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) Plan In 2015, H-GAC proposed federal funding to the City for the SafeClear Program for a 2-year term. Funding will pay (on behalf of vehicle owner) for the tow of a stalled vehicle by a SafeClear tow operator from the freeways within the City.

  7. H-GAC Plan (cont) • The program will be a partnership between H-GAC, the Harris County Sherriff’s Office (HCSO) and the City: • H-GAC will be responsible for obtaining funding for the program. • HCSO will be responsible for authorizing tows from TranStar and tracking those tows within a Regional Incident Management System (RIMS) • City will be responsible for distributing payments to SafeClear tow operators, seeking reimbursement from H-GAC, and enforcement of SafeClear contracts and compliance by wrecker drivers and storage lot owners.

  8. Request for City Council Approval Funding Agreement between H-GAC and City. Interlocal Agreement between City and Harris County. Interlocal Agreement between City and METRO to cover HOV lanes in H-GAC Plan. Amendment to SafeClear Agreements with 16 Tow Operators to incorporate provisions under H-GAC Plan.

  9. Financing the H-GAC Plan H-GAC has started funding Regional Incident Management Activity and has the programmed funding for the next three plus years. H-GAC commits to seek future federal funding to continue the Regional Incident Management Activity beyond this initial funding allocation.

  10. Current and Planned Funding STP MM is the Surface Transportation Program that is set aside for urbanized areas with populations greater than 200,000 for metro mobility .

  11. A Non-Qualifying SafeClear Tow If a law enforcement officer determines that a public emergency exists, the officer may direct any PATSA auto wrecker to remove the Stalled Vehicle. Such tows shall not be reimbursed if the PATSA auto wrecker that responds is not part of the SafeClear program. The citizen will have to pay the city authorized towing charges.

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